Testimonials

Feature Testimonial

Sharkbyte Sea Systems

"The idea of purpose has always been in the back of my mind, especially with my passion for the environment and belief in ‘business for good.’ But it wasn’t until my first conversation with Mary Ellen that I fully realized how powerful a well-defined purpose could be—not just for differentiation in the market, but for attracting the kind of people and partners who share our values. As a result, we are now halfway through the process of defining our Social Purpose.

 

Thanks to her guidance, I now see that our purpose will be a magnet, drawing the resources, partnerships and talent we need to grow. I’m genuinely excited to finish this journey and can't recommend enough that other business owners reach out to Mary Ellen and Purpose Pathways. Her insights can spark a whole new level of clarity and alignment in a business. It’s not just about finding a unique market position; it’s about embedding a deeper reason for being that can drive everything forward."

About Tessa Vanderkop, Trusted Partner:


Sunshine Coast Credit Union


Tessa is a knowledgeable and passionate community-builder within the social purpose space; we worked with Tessa through the Social Purpose Implementors Program.


Hugely valuable to our journey is her guidance in connecting the highest elements of purpose to the practical actions essential to authentically bringing it to life across our organization.


Tessa’s extensive network of purpose-driven leaders has been eager to share and collaborate – a testament to her commitment to connecting people and building an ecosystem that drives purpose forward.

 

Armour Valve

Having long held the belief that business can be an engine for good in the economy and in society, I searched for several years for a platform or program that could help Armour Valve take that next step. It was hard to find something that we had the time and resources to implement and that resonated with our stakeholders including our family ownership.

 

Thanks to Tessa Vanderkop, and the team at the Social Purpose Institute, we found the right fit through a peer-based, structured, guided, interactive and supportive process that led to the development and implementation of our Purpose. 


At the end of the program we had an implementation roadmap that was unique to our business-needs which has helped to guide our journey. 


For those looking to pivot to purpose, this is a great training program (now something similar offered through Purpose Pathways) to support future-proofing your business.


The Canadian Real Estate Association

“We engaged Purpose Pathways Consulting to assist us with the development of a new social purpose statement for our association. Mary Ellen expertly guided us through a comprehensive process to articulate a purpose statement that resonates deeply with our members, volunteer leaders, and employees. We are grateful for the depth of knowledge and contagious enthusiasm that she brings to our work together and couldn’t be happier with the results. We are excited about the road ahead as we activate our purpose and look forward to our next phase of partnership with Mary Ellen.”

On Track Accounting Solutions Inc.


“Working with Mary Ellen was a transformative experience for my business. I had so many ideas and plans, but I struggled to distill them into a clear and meaningful Purpose. Mary Ellen guided me through a process that, while challenging at times, ultimately helped me uncover the true Social Purpose behind my work. There were moments of frustration, but Mary Ellen provided the patience, insight, and encouragement I needed to stay focused. Thanks to this journey, I now have a Purpose that not only drives my business forward but also resonates deeply with who I am and the impact I want to make.”

Chickadee Invest

"Mary Ellen provided her expertise and guidance to my start-up to help us develop our societal purpose. She helped us shift our thinking away from the 'what' of our business to the 'why'. Her process was easy to follow and her stakeholder-focused approach encouraged us dig into the nuts and bolts of our business to find the best way to communicate 'why' we do what we do. Mary Ellen does a fantastic job of meeting you where you're at - whether you already know about the benefits of being a purpose-driven organization or whether purpose is a new concept, she is effective at communicating the missing pieces and guiding you along the discovery process. I would recommend Mary Ellen to any founder or leader who is committed to growing their business while having a positive societal impact."

And more ...

"We enjoyed the process and were impressed how you kept us on track, with your patience and sense of humour.  It took me a while to get my head around the concept, but it became much clearer, and I am very pleased with what we landed on."

   - True North Executor Solutions


"Collaborating with Mary Ellen was an absolute pleasure! Her authenticity and passion for my project's mission and vision were evident from the very beginning. Mary Ellen took the time to deeply understand each layer of our purpose, helping us to focus on our North Star and refine our messaging. Throughout the process, she provided invaluable creative insights and ideas that truly inspired me during our jam session. I can confidently say that anyone struggling to effectively communicate their brand's story and purpose would benefit immensely from a session with her. "              

  - Lucy Lei; Founder, Roots Collective

2016 to 2022:

"Mary Ellen is able to approach an issue not just from a transactional point of view but by employing a systems lens approach. She is invested in growing business as a force for good and she uses her extensive network, skills and abilities to make that happen.

Her leadership at the Social Purpose Institute, based at the United Way of BC, showed her ability to apply innovation to create great social impact. Starting any project like that requires great tenacity and Mary Ellen has that in spades while also being a great collaborator who is deeply engaged in realizing successful outcomes. She is a class intrapranereur, applying entrepreneurial thinking to tackle tough challenges."   

- Allyson Hewitt, previous VP Impact MaRS Discovery District and now President and CEO, Enactus Canada

"Mary Ellen is a visionary leader and ecosystem builder. She mobilizes people and resources and builds innovation pathways for system change. As a manager she brings out the best in people and inspires everyone to new heights. She is courageous and principled and sees opportunities where others see barriers. Mary Ellen is impact and results driven and a global expert in accelerating the Purpose Economy in which the economy is powered by social purpose business."

- Coro Strandberg, Purpose Advisor to United Way and President, Strandberg Consulting 

"I have known Mary Ellen in a professional capacity for more than four years. In particular, I saw her build the Social Purpose Institute into a force to be reckoned with. Through her time there, it is clear that she can take an idea from conception to implementation, deftly navigating a multi-stakeholder universe, and take a values oriented approach to value creation ("values to value"). What's more, she has a diverse sectoral background which makes her a well-rounded executive."  

- Peter ter Weeme, Chief Social Purpose Officer and VP, Player Experience, BCLC 


"Thanks Mary Ellen for helping us find our purpose, we are so much better for it!" 

- Tony Scott, CEO, Pro-Claim Group & Platinum Pro-Claim Restoration


(see my LinkedIn for more: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maryellen-schaafsma/)